It's official. Summer is over. March is here, and with it comes the official start of autumn. Not long now until the incessant wind, rain, and dark days of winter arrive.

Ok, so maybe I'm overstating it a little. But the days ARE getting shorter and if you're a fan of spending time outdoors, like I am, that can be a little depressing.

So this autumn, I'm going to brighten up my home and bring the garden inside with a pot of stocks.

Stocks are perfect for planting in inside pots because they come in a wide range of colours, are scented and bunch together nicely. Plus they don't attract any insects or pests. Awapuni Nurseries sells both pastel and bright coloured stocks in both standard and dwarf versions.

If you're planning on growing them inside, I'd definitely recommend the dwarf variety. Simply pop down to your local supermarket, Bunnings, or the Warehouse and grab a Pop'n'Grow pot or Traditional Value bundle today. Alternatively, head to our online plant shop and get the plants delivered right to your door.

Remember, Pop'n'Grow and Traditional Value seedlings are both grown with strong individual root systems. But Pop'n'Grow seedlings are perfect for beginners and kids, because they're packaged in strong biodegradable pots that protect the roots, making them guaranteed to grow. And, Traditional Value seedlings are perfect for the budget-conscious gardener because the seedlings are wrapped in recycled newspaper, so the value is in the plants and not the packaging.

So let's get started. Actually, there's not much to planting stocks in a pot. All you need to do is fill the pot with potting mix, dig a little hole, plant the stock, and repeat until the pot is full.

If you plant them quite tightly once they flower they'll look just like a brightly coloured bouquet - perfect for the coffee table or windowsill.

If you want to plant in a garden bed, stocks will provide instant colour and are perfect companions for lavender, bedded irises, roses, daisies and delphiniums. They all like well-drained, sunny soil and no overhead watering - which transfers several diseases these types of plants are susceptible to.

For best flowering results, pick a spot in full sun, then dig in a little compost, make a small hole, plant and fill in with soil.

Depending on the weather where you are, stocks will take around four to six weeks flower. But if they have trouble flowering, just sprinkle some dried blood from the garden centre to add more potassium to the soil.

Then sit back, wait, and enjoy a brighter home this autumn.